Use of anoctamin as a biomarker for radiation biodosimetry

A method of mitigating radiation toxicity in a human subject, who has undergone therapy with ionizing radiation, wherein the method comprises:

• (a) providing a blood sample from a subject who has been subjected to therapy with a predetermined dose of ionizing radiation;
• (b) determining anoctamin 1 expression level in the subject's blood sample;
• and
• (c) comparing the expression level determined in step (b) to a level of anoctamin 1 expression in the subject prior to the subject receiving the radiation therapy;
• wherein if the level of anoctamin 1 expression determined in (b) is greater than 105% of the anoctamin 1 expression level of the subject before the subject received the predetermined dose of ionizing radiation, then prescribing additional radiation at a dose lower than the predetermined dose or discontinuing radiation therapy;
• and
• if the level of anoctamin 1 expression determined in (b) is no greater than 105% of the anoctamin 1 expression level of the subject before the subject received the predetermined dose of ionizing radiation, then continuing the radiation therapy at the predetermined dose.